As Shiffer dismounted the dragon, he stared hard at Uncle Itar. How he hated him with all his heart. Though, he wasn’t shocked that Itar would stoop so low as to kidnap one of his own nephews and he sighed at the thought of having to deal with him when he became Lord Holder.
It wasn’t everyday that a nephew was chosen by his uncle to lead a hold instead of his son, and Shiffer wondered why his Uncle Schille had wanted him as Lord Holder instead? Never that mind now, he had to deal with business.
“My…most distinguished…friends.” Lord Itar said, displeasure lining his tone, though he tried his best to keep it out. Shiffer wanted to glare fiercely at Lord Itar, but refrained.
“I am T’flar, rider of Bronze Teth.” Shiffer said, lowering his voice to a deep baritone. He almost smiled a his voice came out sounding real.
“Hmm…I seem to recognize that name from somewhere, do I know you anywhere? You almost look familiar.” Shiffer dismissed Lord Itar’s idea immediately, replying that he’d know him only from Moon Shadow Weyr.
“I am the Head Searchrider at Moon Shadow Weyr. In fact, I am here today because my men and I are wanting to Search the place for willing candidates.” He smiled briefly, watching Lord Itar’s irritation rise.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’ll—”
“These two with me here are candidates, and they’re a little hungry, I’m sure you’ll not mind sparing us all some food?” Shiffer said quickly, acting as dragonrider as he could. It obviously worked because Lord Itar frowned even deeper than he was and glared fiercely. “And, she is a little freezing from going between, but the silly darling refused to wear anything more than that.” Shiffer added, remembering that his cousin would really be freezing because of the trip between.
Finally, the Lord Holder relented and led them inside.

Itar was the first to notice the loud banging and cries for help, but he pretended not to notice and nudged the dragonrider next to him to remain silent as well. Finally, after a while of the banging and yelling, Shiffer looked up at Lord Itar and smiled.
“Are one of your drudges a little out of hand? I hear someone yelling and screaming, Itar.” He said and Lord Itar put down his fork and stood up.
“Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” He said as everyone else stood up when he did. He nodded for them to be seated.
“Well, I took care of that.” He said and smiled when he returned. “Now, T’flar. About this Search?” He asked.
“Ah, yes. Well, Moon Shadow Weyr's Golden Queen has laid a clutch of eggs, there is a queen egg, and we were asked to Search all the holds for potential candidates. The queen is still very broody right now.” He said. Of course, he was making up his own story, and wasn’t sure whether it was true or not. The only true information he knew was that there was a gold’s clutch on the sands.
“Well, I am honored that you would Search this Hold first.” He said.
“Actually, this has been the sixth hold we’ve Searched so far.” He said, and watched with pleasure as his Uncle reddened in the face with anger and embarrassment.
“Yes, well, outside you said the queen had just laid today.” Lord Itar said. Shiffer smiled and looked directly into the Lord Holder’s eyes.
“Yes, I did say that, didn’t I? But, we’ve been timing it.” He said.
“And not running into yourselves this early in the morning?” He asked.
“Of course not.” He replied. “We know what we are doing, and our dragons know what to do. They are very intelligent, milord.” He hoped that statement would extinguish any anger the dragons or dragonriders might have with him.
“Hmm…well.” He said, and Shiffer began to wonder if that was his uncles favorite word. They finished lunch and then Shiffer and the dragonriders were released to do their Searching.
Lord Itar stayed close to the dragonriders, just as Shiffer had hoped he would, while the real dragonrider portraying Mirrial’s brother and Mirrial were out causing a distraction with all of the other younger fellows in the hold. The majority of the other people were all going about their business quite deftly, showing off to the dragonriders in hopes of being the ones they Searched.
This was the part that had Shiffer most worried. He had never been on a Search before, and he’d claimed to be the head Searchrider. So he tried his best to do as a Searchrider might. He walked up to one kid and nodded at him, the young kid smiled.
“What’s your name boy?” He asked, hoping he was doing this right.
“Tiran.” He said.
“Age?”
“Seventeen, sir.”
“Hmmm…” He said, observing the boy, he cocked his head to the side and then let his eyes glaze over slightly as if he were listening to a dragon. “Well, Teth says you’d make a fantastic candidate, and I agree with him.” He said, and he smiled as the boy nearly leapt for joy, but he felt a little guilty since he was raising this boys hopes unnecessarily. As they progressed, one of the dragonriders moved closer to him.
“You’re doing great, just keep that up. We’re going to brake now. I’ll stick with you and the others will split up into pairs.” He said, and Shiffer nodded.
“Good. I feel more at ease now than I did before.” He said and the dragonrider patted him on the shoulder.

It was the fact that they had gotten home safely, with no injuries to anyone (except his Unlcle Itar), that made Shiffer feel all the better. He couldn’t stand the fact that his uncle had stooped so low as to kidnap his cousin! Why had he thought he could get away with such a thing? Well, as he had sworn when he’d won the fight with his uncle, he would kill him if he came anywhere near their family again.
He was disappointed after dinner when the dragonrider asked him if he would like to become a candidate. He truly wanted to, but…he couldn’t be a lord Holder and a Dragonrider at the same time, and he sighed. Then his Uncle Schille interfered and told him to go. Those had to be the most wonderful words he’d ever heard, and yet at the same time the most disappointing.
Then, the dragonrider broke the news that they would be taking Mirrial first of all, and then they would take him and Pitiraon when another clutch was laid on the sands. He was kind of saddened by this fact, yet, because he was promised he could stand at a later time, he was still overjoyed.

The message came a few days later by firelizard.

We have been keeping in touch with a few of our Alskyrian friends and have learned that there is a clutch upon the sands of Caer Brynmor. A Caer is like a Weyr, but they have many different customs and food. I think you will enjoy it there. If you would like to stand, please return the firelizard with a note attached, and be careful, this firelizard likes to put up fights when being attached to a note.

Shiffer smiled, he could almost detect the hint of humor from the dragonrider through the note.

I would most enjoy standing for the clutch at the Caer. But, how will I get to this Alskyr that you talk about?

The dragonrider came when he received the flitter back.
“I will be taking you to the Caer. Have your things ready?” Shiffer nodded. “When you have Bonded–that’s what they call it there-I will return to pick you up, if you so wish to return.” He said and had a gleam in his eye.
“Uhm...okay. I’m ready.” He said and smiled before climbing onto the dragon’s back. What was this Alskyr like? He wondered as they winked between.